Can someone verify my thoughts, please?

Travel discussion for St. John
User avatar
TraumaQueen
Posts: 162
Joined: Tue Jan 31, 2012 3:28 pm
Location: Mississippi

Can someone verify my thoughts, please?

Post by TraumaQueen »

I've been researching about no see ums and have gathered some info and I need to make sure I have it right......

They come out in the morning before the sun heats up the land.......does this mean on the hiking trails 0700 is too early to start out? I'd like to beat the heat on a hike.

They come out in the evenings......what is considered evening? I'd love to stay on the beach until late afternoon. Also, what about after dark at one of the beach bars? Will we get eaten up then?

They are primarily in sandy areas.......how far away from sand do they travel? Are the Cruz Bay and Coral Bay areas ok for late afternoon/early evening drinks without spray?

DEET seems to be the best protection........I've also read about some sort of lemon mixture that is chemical free that I can find on island. Has anyone tried both and which seems to work the best? I'd rather not use DEET, but would if necessary. If the lemon mixture works, where can I get it and what is the name it is sold under?

They live in sand, therefore if you track sand in the jeep/villa you can transport them in.......It seems to me that it'd take a LOT of sand to do this. Am I wrong?

One last thing, our villa is up the hill in Coral Bay. As long as there's a breeze we should be ok from the skeeters and no see ums, correct? I don't mind the mosquito's so much because you can usually see them and squish them. Living in the hot and humid deep south, mosquitos are part of life.

As paranoid as this post may sound, these little turds WILL NOT ruin my vacay! I'd just like to have all this knowledge so my day can go like this......Hey, since we'll be at the Beach Bar tonight after hiking this morning we can't forget to grab the XXXXX spray!

Thanks for reading!
Muhaha
Posts: 294
Joined: Sun Jun 13, 2010 12:43 am
Location: Chicago

Post by Muhaha »

The lemon stuff is Repel with lemon eucalyptis. You can find it at Walmart or Target and it is awesome stuff. We started using it for our kids, but then started using it ourselves after we found out how well it actually works.
User avatar
Florida Girl
Posts: 307
Joined: Tue Sep 27, 2011 7:31 pm
Location: Fort Myers

Post by Florida Girl »

I don't know how true this is, but I've heard that Gin, applied topically, works.
User avatar
scoob
Posts: 193
Joined: Sun Feb 25, 2007 5:58 pm
Location: Upstate NY

Post by scoob »

Try the gin..
Pueblo was selling a liter for $ 1.99 of Hallmark gin last month.
It's cheaper than water !! why not try it !!
Scoob :lol:
Image
User avatar
jwwj
Posts: 205
Joined: Mon Aug 23, 2010 8:48 pm
Location: Bethesda, Maryland

Post by jwwj »

I'm pretty sure that if you drink enough gin it has the same effect. I've noticed after 3 or 4 gin and tonics sitting on the villa deck I don't notice any insects biting :D
You don't stop playing because you grow old; you grow old because you stop playing.
kingConch
Posts: 51
Joined: Thu May 01, 2008 1:00 am
Location: texas

Post by kingConch »

I'm worried about the morning no see ums. What's cereal goes best with gin?
Painting with crayons.
<a href="http://www.TickerFactory.com/">
<img border="0" src="http://tickers.TickerFactory.com/ezt/d/ ... t.png"></a>
jimg20
Posts: 1840
Joined: Mon May 28, 2007 11:43 am
Location: Fayetteville, AR

Post by jimg20 »

Ha, more boozy undertones. :wink: I think that the topical application should be reinforced with the oral route. One cannot be too careful these days. :D

JIM
Man it's like some dream we live down here....

Image
User avatar
JT
Posts: 1515
Joined: Mon Aug 07, 2006 4:26 pm
Location: MD

Post by JT »

Drink enough gin, or rum, and you won't have to worry about them in the morning. seriously, from around 3:30- 4:00 pm until sundown they can be brutal at Maho and Francis particularly. I'm a firm believer that the more fragrant soaps,shampoo, lotions, and perfumes that you wear the worse that you'll get bit. If you don't smell "nice," but another member of your party does, they'll be the one with the bites.
When you find yourself in a hole.... quit digging.
User avatar
jwwj
Posts: 205
Joined: Mon Aug 23, 2010 8:48 pm
Location: Bethesda, Maryland

Post by jwwj »

KingConch I think you may be on to something, pretty sure cherrios won't stand up to gin but perhaps granola or maybe frosted mini wheats. . . .
You don't stop playing because you grow old; you grow old because you stop playing.
Muhaha
Posts: 294
Joined: Sun Jun 13, 2010 12:43 am
Location: Chicago

Post by Muhaha »

Silly rabbit, Trix are for kids. Lucky Charms.
kingConch
Posts: 51
Joined: Thu May 01, 2008 1:00 am
Location: texas

Post by kingConch »

Erin go bragh! Lucky Charms sounds great-
Painting with crayons.
<a href="http://www.TickerFactory.com/">
<img border="0" src="http://tickers.TickerFactory.com/ezt/d/ ... t.png"></a>
User avatar
lazylane
Posts: 987
Joined: Wed Jan 23, 2008 5:53 pm
Location: Scenic Hocking Hills, Ohio

Post by lazylane »

They have always been less of a problem the higher up you are and away from vegetation! The breeze definitely helps. Around 4PM at Francis is killer!!! (probably any beach, but I have noticed them the most there!) I posted in another post about West Indies Itch Relief. It is an amazing all natural product made on St. Thomas that brought instant relief! They also make an insect repellant. I think if you are sensitive to them they will bother you anywhere though! My brother gets eaten alive while my husband and I only get a few bites.
User avatar
TraumaQueen
Posts: 162
Joined: Tue Jan 31, 2012 3:28 pm
Location: Mississippi

Post by TraumaQueen »

Gin? I thought it was all about the rum?!?! :lol: Gin and I got into an altercation in high-school so we no longer talk. Ha!
User avatar
Florida Girl
Posts: 307
Joined: Tue Sep 27, 2011 7:31 pm
Location: Fort Myers

Post by Florida Girl »

I suspect the sweet, sugary smell of rum in your veins is what attracts them! LOL!
User avatar
lisa mcg
Posts: 412
Joined: Fri Dec 28, 2007 10:18 am
Location: Wilmington, Delaware

Post by lisa mcg »

Hate to be a downer, but we were about as high up as you can get in Fish bay, and they ate us up :x Didn't apply bug spray at first, so that was part of the problem....but, they were there.
all you have to do is smile, smile, smile
Post Reply